Packaging machine

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for packaging products, such as assemblies of bacon slices and the like, which are advanced from a supply source in random order on backing boards having identifying indicia for controlling certain of the subsequent packaging operations and the application of the proper one of two different labels according to the indicia on the respective boards. The assemblies are advanced to the horizontal top run of a lower conveyor carrying successive package platters, past an electric eye which scans the identifying indicia and which actuates mechanism to position or set a series of cams carried on the back face of each of the packaging platters for controlling subsequent operations. An upper conveyor carrying package forming platters for mating with the platters on the lower conveyor lays down a covering web and forms vacuumized and sealed packages between pairs of mating platters. The cams control operation of mechanism for applying adhesive to the backing board prior to advance of the boards to the upper conveyor and also a label applying device beyond the upper conveyor which has a dual label supply magazine and an associated adhesive activator and applicator for applying to the packages either of two labels according to the cam setting on the bottom of the platter on the lower conveyor which carries the package. The apparatus includes a platter identification printer and a code dater preceding and following the labeling device. Upon the application of the label, the packages are transferred to the bottom run of an outfeed conveyor having package suspending pins which carry the connected packages between a vertically reciprocating trimming punch and a cooperating bottom die for severing the packages from the web so as to permit discharge of the separated packages from the apparatus with the waste resulting from the trimming operation being forced loose from the pins and wound on a reel at the end of the outfeed conveyor.

United States Patent Jensen et al.

[ 5] Feb.29,1972

[54] PACKAGING MACHINE [72] Inventors: Hans A. Jensen, Madison Melvin M.

Layman, Waunakee, both of Wis.

[73] Assignee: Oscar Mayer & Co., Inc., Madison, Wis. [22] Filed: Mar, 5, 1970 21] Appl. No.:- 16,787

[52] U.S.Cl ..53/73,53/l12, 53/137 Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee An0meyGreist, Lockwood, Greenawalt & Dewey [57] ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for packaging products, such as as semblies of bacon slices and the like, which are advanced from a supply source in random order on backing boards having identifying indicia for controlling certain of the subsequent packaging operations and the application of the proper one of two different labels according to the indicia on the respective boards. The assemblies are advanced to the horizontal top run of a lower conveyor carrying successive package platters, past an electric eye which scans the identifying indicia and which actuates mechanism to position or set a series of cams carried on the back face of each of the packaging platters for controlling subsequent operations. An upper conveyor carrying package forming platters for mating with the platters on the lower conveyor lays down a covering web and forms vacuumized and sealed packages between pairs of mating platters. The cams control operation of mechanism for applying adhesive to the backing board prior to advance of the boards to the upper conveyor and also a label applying device beyond the upper conveyor which has a dual label supply magazine and an associated adhesive activator and applicator for applying to the packages either of two labels according to the cam setting on the bottom of the platter on the lower conveyor which carries the package. The apparatus includes a platter identification printer and a code dater preceding and following the labeling device. Upon the application of the label, the packages are transferred to the bottom run of an outfeed conveyor having package suspending pins which carry the connected packages between a vertically reciprocating trimming punch and a cooperating bottom die for severing the packages from the web so as to permit discharge of the separated packages from the apparatus with the waste resulting from the trimming operation being forced loose from the pins and wound on a reel at the end of the outfeed conveyor.

28 Claims, 37 Drawing Figures 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATT'YS. 2

Patented Feb. 29, 1972 Patented Feb. 29, 1972 3,645,065

17 Sheets-Sheet 2 Lil:

Patented Feb. 29, 1972 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 29, 1972 17 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 29, 1972 3,64,065

17 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patente& Feb. 2%, 39 m 17 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Feb. 2, 1972 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 9 Patented Feb. 29, 1972 ama 1'? Sheets-Sheet 11 Patented Feb.29,1972 3,45%5

1'7 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Patented Feb. 29, 1972 3 ,45,065

1'7 Sheets-Sheet 15 Patented Feb. 29, 1972 17 Sheets-Sheet 15 PACKAGING MACHINE This invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatically packaging and labeling products which are advanced on backing boards bearing identifying indicia which is utilized to control the packaging and labeling operations.

In the packaging of certain products such as, for example, sliced bacon or similar products, which may be taken from a I supply source in batches of predetermined uniform weight or size but which may be of varying grade or quality, it may be desirable to enclose successive batches of the product in identical packaging materials and place on the packages different labels according to the identifying indicia on the product assemblies. This may, of course, be done by segregating the product assemblies which are to have the same label applied and packaging and labeling them separately or by providing for segregation and separate labeling after the product is enclosed in the packaging elements. These procedures, however, which involve separate lines for the packaging and/or labeling operations do not lend themselves to high-speed production. It is a general object, therefore, to provide a system and apparatus for packing products of the character described which enables all of the packaging and labeling operations to be carried out automatically with provisions for initial product identification and control of the means for accomplishing the package forming operations and selective label application in accordance with the product identification.

It is a more particular object of the invention to provide a method and machine for packaging assemblies of bacon slices, or the like, which assemblies are provided with an identifying means which is employed to control subsequent packaging and label-applying operations so as to form uniform packages and apply a label to each package according to identifying means.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method and machine for packaging a product such as groups of bacon strips or the like which are adapted to receive labels from at least two separate stacks thereof which product assemblies having identifying means thereon are advanced in random order to a packaging area where successive assemblies are enclosed in a packaging material after which a label is automatically drawn from a stack in accordance with the identifying means and pressed onto each package. a

It is a-further object of the invention to provide a method and machine for packaging a product such as groups of bacon strips or the like which involves product assemblies of different character requiring different labeling wherein the product assemblies are provided with identifiable marking and advanced to a sensing device which identifies the particular assembly and sets up a mechanism for controlling the packaging and labeling operations subsequently carried out so as to automatically apply the proper label to each package according to the marking on the product assembly and'to disable certain operations when there is an interruption in the advance of the product assemblies.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a method and a machine for packaging and labeling products or groups of products which are not uniform as to quality of the like and which require the application of different labels for purposes of identification wherein the products or groups of products are provided with an identifying means and advanced to a wrapping and labeling apparatus which includes a sensing device actuated by the identifying means and a mechanism for controlling the operation of the wrapping and labeling devices which is responsive to the sensing device so as to automatically accomplish the wrapping and labeling of the packages in a continuous single line operation at relatively high speed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for packaging groups of bacon slices or the like which are initially provided with an identifying means according to grade or other criteria, wherein the package forming groups or assemblies are advanced in random succession to an identifying area where each assembly is identified by a sensing device and fed to a package-forming and label-applying apparatus and wherein control mechanism is provided for subsequent packaging and labeling operations which is adapted to be set in response to the operation of the sensing device, with the label-applying apparatus including a dual stack label magazine and associated mechanism for automatically feeding a label from one of the stacks according to the product grade as determined by the setting of the control mechanism by the sensing device.

A still more specific object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for packaging groups or assemblies of bacon slices or similar products wherein the products are initially examined and placed on backing boards which are provided with an identifying means, the backing boards with the products thereon are fed in random order to a package and labeling apparatus in which the backing boards are first advanced through an area where the identification of the board is accomplished by a sensing device which operates to set a series of control cams carried on each of a series of packageforming platters on a continuously moving conveyor on which the backing boards are carried past a printer which applies a continuous marginal adhesive pattern to each board as it is advanced to a cooperating package forming, platter-carrying conveyor, the platters on the latter laying down a continuous web of covering film over the package assemblies carried on the platters on the first conveyor and mating with the same, with provision for evacuating and sealing the package assemblies, after which the connected packages are advanced past a platter identification printer to a label-applying device which includes a dual label magazine and associated mechanism operative under the control of the preset cams to selectively apply labels to the packages, the labeled packages are passed beneath a code dater and transferred to an outfeed conveyor which advances the connected packages beneath a cutting die which is operated to trim each package and release the same from the web with the remaining material in the web being wound on a waste-receiving reel at the end of the machine.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the method and apparatus which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B constitute a plan view of a machine for packaging assemblies of bacon slices or similar products which embodies the principal features of the invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B constitute a side elevation of the packaging machine of FIGS. 1A and 1B, with portions thereof broken away;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view to a larger scale at the entrance end of the machine as shown in FIG. 28 with the sideplates removed and with portions broken away or omitted;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, to a larger scale, and with portions broken away;

FIG. 5 is a view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3 with portions broken away and to a larger scale;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 3, to a larger scale;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 3, to a larger scale;

FIG. 8 is a view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 3, to a larger scale and with portions broken away;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross section taken on the line 99 of FIG. 8, to a larger scale and with portions broken away;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of FIG. 28 to a larger scale and with portions broken away;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross section showing a portion of FIG. 10, to a still larger scale;

FIG. 12 is a view taken on the line 1212 of FIG. 11, to a larger scale;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 13-43 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is t a fragmentary cross section taken on the line l4-14 of FIG. 12, showing the far side of the apparatus as viewed in FIG. 12;

FIG. is a fragmentary plan view taken on the line 1515 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 16-16 of FIG. 28, to a larger scale;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary cross section taken on the line 17-17 of FIG. 11, to a larger scale;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary cross section taken on the line 18-18 of FIG. 11, to a larger scale;

FIG. 19 is a largely elevational view showing a portion of the apparatus in FIG. 2A, to a larger scale and with portions broken away and in section;

FIG. is a side elevational view showing a portion of FIG. 2A to a still larger scale;

FIG. 21 is a side elevation showing another portion of FIG. 2A to a larger scale;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 21, the view taken on the line 2222 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a cross section taken on the line 2323 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 24 is a cross section taken on the line 2424 of FIG. 21;

FIG. is a side elevation showing a portion of FIG. 2A to a larger scale;

FIG. 26 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a partial side elevational view at the outfeed end of the machine, the view being taken with the sideplates removed and showing part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 to a larger scale;

FIG. 28 is a fragmentary cross section taken on the line 2828 of FIG. 27, to a still larger scale;

FIG. 29 is a view taken on the line 29-29 of FIG. 27;

FIG. is a view, partly in longitudinal section and partly in side elevation, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3131 of FIG. 30, to a larger scale;

FIG. 32 is a side elevational view, largely schematic, showing the packaging and labeling operations which are carried out by the machine illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 30;

FIG. 33 is a plan view, largely schematic showing the operations illustrated in FIG. 20;

FIG. 34 is a plan view of a packaging board on which the product is supported as it is fed into the machine; and

FIG. is a plan view of the completed package produced with the illustrated method and machine.

The method and apparatus which is illustrated in the drawings is particularly designed for the packaging of assemblies of bacon slices which are advanced on a discharge conveyor from a bacon slicing machine with the assemblies being such as to constitute, for example, a l-pound package and being subject to visual inspection permitting the assemblies to be judged as to the quality or grade under which they should be marketed. The operator or inspector, in the packaging system illustrated, checks the weight of each assembly of the bacon slices and makes any correction necessary, after which each assembly is placed on a backing board B (FIGS. 33 and 34) which bears on its margin an identifying insignia, the different grades of the product, as determined by the inspector, being placed on backing boards of the same structural character except for grade identification insignia or marking. The product assemblies A with supporting boards B are then advanced to the packaging machine in random order, that is, in no particular order of succession with regard to the identifying indicia on the supporting boards B. The package assemblies A enter the infeed portion 10 (FIGS. 18, 2B and 3) on a chutelike conveyor assembly 11 which has associated means for identifying the grade indicia on the package assembly as the latter is positioned on a bottom package-forming platter 12 advancing on the top run of a lower conveyor 13, each board-supporting platter 12 having an associated set of cam plates, the position of which is controlled by operation of a scanning device responsive to the indicia on the backing board B as it passes the same. The cam plates control subsequent operations on the assembly A which is carried on the platter 12. The conveyor 13 advances the platters 12 past an adhesive applicator apparatus, indicated at 14, which prints on the margin of the backing board a continuous adhesive pattern, the adhesive apparatus being inoperative if no backing board is present. The conveyor 13 extends beneath a top conveyor 15 which carries package-forming platters 16 adapted to mate with the platters 12 on the lower conveyor 13 and to lie down on the latter a covering web W which is delivered by a web infeed conveyor assembly 17 and guided around the infeed end of the upper packaging conveyor 15. The platters 16 which are carried on the conveyor 15 have associated means for evacuating the packages which are formed between the mating platters and for sealing around the margins of the same. AS the conveyor 13 advances the platters I2 beyond the upper platter conveyor 15 the sealed packages are advanced beneath a printing device 18 (FIG. 2A) which applies to the margin of each package numbers, or the like, for identifying the pair of mating platters between which the particular package has been formed. Further advance of the bottom conveyor moves the packages beneath a label L applying mechanism 20 which is operated in response to the setting of the control cams to apply the proper label to the leading side of each of the packages. The label applying control includes a no-package no-label feature. The packages then pass beneath a code dater 21 and approach the end of the conveyor 13 where they are transferred to a takeoff or transfer conveyor 22. The takeoff or discharge conveyor 22 carries the connected packages beneath a cutting or trimming head 23 which is operated to cut the successive packages free of the web, allowing the packages to drop out of the machine while the balance of the web material, which is waste, is released from the conveyor 22 and wound on a collecting reel 24. The operation of the conveyors is continuous and the control arrangements provide for operation of the different devices in proper timed relation to the advance of the conveyors and in response to the initial setting of the control cams which are positioned according to the indicia on the backing boards B so as to omit some of the operations when there is no package assembly delivered to a platter 12 on the conveyor 13 and to apply the proper label to each package formation regardless of the order in which the assemblies A enter the machine.

Referring now to the details of the machine, the entire apparatus is supported on an upright frame 25 with the infeed conveyor assembly 11 extending on an auxiliary frame 26 projecting from the infeed or entrance end of the machine (FIGS. 18 and 23).

Referring more in detail to the infeed conveyor assembly 11, there is provided a guide chute 27 (FIG. 1B) in which the product and associated backing board assemblies are advanced to the lower platter conveyor 13 by a pair of side chains 28, 28' which are carried on end sprockets 30, 30' and 31, 31' for operation in a common plane. The chains 28, 28 are at opposite sides of the chute 27 and have cooperating pusher fingers 32, 32' which engage the trailing edge of the backing boards B and advance the same to the lower end of the inclined chute 27. The sprockets 30, 31 are driven by suitable angle drive connection with a cross-shaft 33 (FIGS. 18 and 3) having an end sprocket 34 which is driven by chain 35 which is in turn driven by connection with the power drive to the lower platter conveyor 13, the drive being indicated in FIG. 3.

At the lower end of the infeed chute 27 there is mounted, on suitable supports, a cross-shaft 36 carrying a pair of aligned and axially spaced bars 37, the ends of which serve to force the boards B down into proper position on the platters 12. Each of the platters 12 is provided with a pair of board-engaging needles or pins 38, 38, one at each side edge (FIG. 6) on which the boards B are impaled by the arms 37, the latter being rotated in proper timed relation with the movement of the platters 12 and the infeed chains 28, 28' to press the boards down on the impaling pins 38, 38', the latter being located near the leading edge of each platter 12. Side guide plates 39, 39 (FIGS. 6 and 14) project above the platter surfaces outboard of the pins 38, 38.

nun: nno: 

1. A packaging machine for products which are adapted to be divided into two grades and advanced at random with identifying means thereon for indicating different grade labels to be applied to the package, said machine comprising upper and lower endless conveyors arranged with bottom and top runs, respectively, traveling in confronting relation along a horizontal path, package forming platters carried on said conveyors which are adapted to mate along said confronting runs and form packages between mating pairs thereof, means for advancing the products and positioning the same on the platters on the lower conveyor, means for feeding packaging material between the confronting runs of said conveyors, a plurality of settable cam plates mounted on each platter on said lower conveyor, a scanning device and associated mechanism operative according to the identifying means on the products to set the cam plates in selected positions, a labeling device positioned beyond the discharge end of the top conveyor which labeling device has magazines adapted for receiving stacks of different labels and associated means for transferring the labels from the magazines to the packages, and means for controlling the operation of said labeling device and which is actuated according to the setting of said cam plates whereby to apply to each package a label according to the identifying means on the product.
 2. A machine for packaging products which are advanced at random on backing boards having identifying means thereon for indicating which of two different labels is to be applied to the package when formed, said machine comprising upper and lower platter carrying conveyors with the bottom and top runs, respectively, traveling in confronting relation along a horizontal path, cooperating package-forming platters carried on said conveyors, means for advancing the backing boards and positioning the same on the platters on the lower conveyor, means for feeding a covering web between the confronting runs of said conveyors, means associated with mating pairs of the platters to form packages between the same by sealing the covering web to the backing boards, a series of settable cam plates mounted on each platter on said lower conveyor, a scanning device and associated mechanism operated by said scanning device to set the cam plates in predetermined position according to the identifying means on said boards, a labeling device positioned beyond the discharge end of the top conveyor which labeling device has dual magazines for receiving a supply of each of the two different labels, and means for transferring labels from a selected magazine to the packages, means for controlling the operation of said labeling device which is actuated according to the cam setting on the lower platter on which a package is formed so as to apply the label to the package according to the identifying means thereon.
 3. A packaging machine as set forth in claim 1 and said scanning device being operative to set the cam plates to a position for controlling the labeling device so as to prevent operation thereof when no product is advanced to the platters.
 4. A packaging machine as set forth in claim 1 and said labeling device comprising movably mounted magazines and means for moving the magazines relative to the transfer means for selection and transfer of labels.
 5. A packaging machine as set forth in claim 1 and said labeling device comprising a rotatably mounted wheel with suction arms for transferring labels from the magazines to the packages.
 6. A packaging machine as set forth in claim 1 and said labeling device comprising suction means for transferring labels from the magazines to the packages and a means for directing heated air into the path of the labels for activating an adhesive on the labels.
 7. A packaging machine as set forth in claim 1 and said suction means for transferring the labels from the magazines to the packages comprising a rotatably mounted wheel having radial arms thereon which are provided with suction cups for gripping the labels, means for directing hot air onto the labels to activate an adhesive and shield means on said wheel for blocking the hot air so as to protect the suction cups when the suction cups are in predetermined, nonlabel gripping position.
 8. A packaging magazine as set forth in claim 1 and said labeling device including a rotatably mounted pressing wheel having pressure applying pads carried on radial arms for pressing the labels into final position on the packages.
 9. A packaging machine as set forth in claim 1 and said labeling device comprising a supporting frame on which said magazines are movably mounted and means for moving the magazines selectively between a label-feeding position and a nonfeeding position.
 10. A packaging machine as set forth in claim 1 and said labeling device comprising a pair of said stack receiving magazines, a support frame on which the magazines are carried, a rotatably mounted feed wheel having suction means thereon for gripping the labels and applying the same to the packages, and means for moving the support frame and the label magazines relative to the feed wheel so as to present the labels in a selected one of the magazines for gripping by said suction means on said feed wheel.
 11. A packaging machine as set forth in claim 10, and the means for moving the support frame and magazines relative to the feed wheel so that the bottom label in the selected magazine travels in a path having a portion thereof closely following a portion of the path of the suction means on said feed wheel.
 12. A machine for forming and labeling packages which are characterized by a quantity of a product supported on a backing board and covered by a film which is sealed to the margins of the backing boards and which has a label applied thereon, said machine comprising an elongate endless bottom conveyor having a plurality of package-forming platters which platters are of a size to support the backing boards, an endless top conveyor having a plurality of cooperating package forming platters, said conveyors being disposed with top and bottom runs in confronting relation so that pairs of platters came togetheR in mating relation and advance for a distance while the package assemblies are sealed between the mating platters, means for feeding backing board and product assemblies onto the platters of the bottom conveyor, means for feeding a covering film onto the platters on the top conveyor, means for applying to the backing boards a continuous line of adhesive extending in the margins about the product assemblies on said backing boards, means for controlling the application of the adhesive, means for applying a label to each succeeding package, settable means associated with the platters on the bottom conveyor for actuating the means for controlling the application of adhesive and labels, a scanning device adjacent the path traversed by the backing board and product assemblies as they are fed onto the platters on said bottom conveyor which is actuated by passage of said backing boards, and means operated by said scanning device to preset said settable means so as to control application of the adhesive and the labels in accordance with actuation of the scanning means by the passage of the backing boards.
 13. A machine for forming and labeling packages as set forth in claim 12 and said settable means comprising a plurality of cam members mounted on the platters on said bottom conveyor.
 14. A machine for forming and labeling packages as set forth in claim 12 and said means for applying a label to each succeeding package including a plurality of label magazines and associated means for feeding labels from a selected one of said magazines.
 15. A machine for forming and labeling packages as set forth in claim 12 and said settable means including a plurality of cam members, one of which is set in a position for operating the means to control the application of the labels so as to select a label from one of the magazines according to an identifying mark on the backing board which actuates the scanning means.
 16. A machine for forming and labeling packages as set forth in claim 12 and said settable means comprising a plurality of cam plates mounted on a shiftable cross rod which is supported on the face of each platter on the bottom conveyor which is opposite the face on which a backing board is received.
 17. A machine for forming and labeling packages as set forth in claim 12 and means for trimming the individual packages to uniform size.
 18. A machine for forming and labeling packages as set forth in claim 12 wherein the covering film is in web form and means for cutting the individual packages free of the web of covering film and trimming the packages to uniform size.
 19. A machine for forming and labeling packages as set forth in claim 18 and means for discharging the waste resulting when the individual packages are cut free of the web of covering material.
 20. A machine for forming and labeling packages as set forth in claim 12 and the platters on the bottom conveyor having board-impaling pins on the board-receiving face and said means for feeding backing board and product assemblies thereon including means for pressing the boards into engagement with said impaling pins.
 21. A machine for forming and labeling packages as set forth in claim 12 and conveyor means for receiving the packages from the bottom platter conveyor after the packages are formed and for conveying the packages to a trimming station, a trimming punch mounted for reciprocating movement at said trimming station and means for reciprocating said trimming punch relative to a cooperating die to trim each successive package.
 22. A machine for forming and labeling packages as set forth in claim 12 and means for transferring the packages from the bottom platter conveyor and advancing the packages to a trimming station, and means at said trimming station for trimming the packages to uniform size.
 23. A machine for forming and labeling packages as set forth in claim 22 and the means at said trimming station for trimming the packages comprising a trimming punch and die reciprocably mounted on a carriage, means for reciprocating the punch and means for moving the carriage in a path having a portion thereof corresponding to the path of advance of the packages.
 24. In a machine for forming packages which are characterized by a quantity of the product supported on a backing board and covered by a film which is sealed to the margins of the backing board, an elongate endless bottom conveyor having a plurality of forming platters thereon which have outboard faces of a size to support the backing boards thereon, a top conveyor having a plurality of forming platters with outboard faces for cooperation with the outboard faces of the platters on the bottom conveyor in forming the packages, said conveyors being arranged with the top and bottom runs thereof in confronting relation so that pairs of bottom and top platters come together in mating relation and advance for a distance while the package assemblies are sealed between the mating platters, means for feeding onto the platters of the bottom conveyor backing board and product assemblies, means for feeding onto the platters on the top conveyor a continuous covering film, means for supplying each backing board with a continuous line of adhesive extending in the margin about the product assembled on said backing board, means for evacuating the packages while they are being formed between the pairs of mating platters, means for controlling said evacuating means, and settable means associated with the platters on the bottom conveyor for actuating the means for controlling the evacuation of the packages, a scanning device adjacent the path traversed by the backing boards and product assemblies as they are fed onto said bottom conveyor which is actuated by passage of a board and means operated by said scanning device to preset said settable means so as to control the evacuation of the packages according to the presence or absence of the backing board and product assemblies.
 25. In a machine for forming packages as set forth in claim 24 and said settable means comprising valve operating cam members carried on the inboard faces of the platters of said bottom conveyor.
 26. In a machine for forming packages as set forth in claim 24, and said means for controlling said platter evacuating means comprising valves which are disposed for actuation by said settable means when the latter are in predetermined preset position on the platters on the bottom conveyor.
 27. In a machine for forming and labeling packages which are characterized by a quantity of a product supported on a backing board and covered by a film which is sealed to the margins of the backing board, which machine comprises a bottom conveyor having a plurality of forming platters thereon which are of a size to support the backing boards, a top conveyor having a plurality of forming platters for cooperation with the platters on the bottom conveyor in forming the packages, said conveyors being arranged with the top and bottom runs thereof in confronting relation so that pairs of platters come together in mating relation and advance for a distance while the package assemblies are sealed between the mating platters, means for feeding backing board and product assemblies onto the platters of the bottom conveyor, means for feeding a continuous film of covering material onto the platters on the top conveyor, means for sealing the film to the backing boards in the margin which extends about the product assembled on each said backing board, means for applying labels from a plurality of stacks to the packages formed between the pairs of mating platters, settable means associated with the platters on the bottom conveyor for controlling the application of the labels, a scanning device adjacent the path traversed by the backing board and product assemblies as they are fed onto said bottom conveyor which is operative to identify each of said assemblies and means responsive to the operation of said scanning device to preset said means for controlling the application of the labeLs to the packages so as to select the label for each package from one of the label stacks according to the identification of the backing board and product assembly for said package.
 28. In a machine as set forth in claim 27 and said settable means being operative in one preset position, which is determined by the scanning device when no backing board and product assembly is present, for disabling the means for applying labels so that no label is applied. 